Election Insider
May 7 Election Insider
The North Carolina and Indiana primaries may have forced clarity upon the Democratic presidential race last night. With the math of the delegate race becoming increasingly implausible for the Clinton campaign, it is likely that the marathon race is close to a conclusion.
April 24 Election Insider
Political attention continues to be dominated by the seemingly never-ending drama for the Democratic presidential nomination, but while the Clinton and Obama camps slug it out, Democrats supporting either candidate are working tirelessly to solidify the Democratic majority in the Senate.
April 10 Election Insider
The results of the Democratic primary runoff last week suggest that a Democratic victory in the upcoming special election is very possible.
March 25 Election Insider
As this excursion from the frantic primary calendar unfolds, Pennsylvania is the next important primary on the horizon.
March 11 Election Insider
The Democratic Party scored a major victory last week, and unlike most current stories in politics, it had little to do with the presidential primaries.
February 25 Election Insider
So much has changed since Hillary Clinton won in New Hampshire. Barack Obama has turned the tide in his direction, scoring 10 straight victories and making inroads into every segment of the population that had overwhelmingly supported Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire.
February 15 Election Insider
The wealth of presidential primaries and caucuses on Super Tuesday and beyond have failed to produce a clear front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination but have shown a population increasingly tuned in to and motivated by the Democratic contest.
February 4 Election Insider
The most striking feature of the Democratic primary season, at least to date, has been remarkable turnout. State after state -- Iowa , New Hampshire , South Carolina , Nevada , Florida -- has established turnout records.
January 31 Election Insider
Bereft of delegates to the National Convention, a penalty imposed by the Democratic National Committee for noncompliance with the prescribed calendar, Florida nevertheless is worth a look.
January 23 Election Insider
In the week leading up to the New Hampshire primary, poll after poll had Barack Obama well ahead of eventual winner Hillary Clinton. Obviously the polls were wrong, but there were several other factors that led to Clinton 's unexpected victory in New Hampshire , some of which carried over to Nevada .
January 15 Election Insider
The Iowa caucus is one of the most influential events in the presidential nomination process. It is a strong indicator of the mood of the country.
December 17 Election Insider
The 2008 election landscape is increasingly positive for Democrats. Republican retirements in the House and Senate have kept the GOP on the defensive, as several members have decided not to seek reelection in competitive districts.
November 28 Election Insider
Since 2004, Colorado has transformed from a solid Republican state to one of intense competition where Democrats have suddenly reached parity.
October 26 Election Insider
Americans want change. Despite low congressional approval ratings, polls show that Democrats have an advantage in the upcoming congressional and presidential elections. President Bush continues to cast a shadow over his party.
October 11 Election Insider
Virginia presents Democrats with the opportunity to reclaim a small portion of the South. The last two election cycles have shown a significant shift in the voting habits of Virginians, making the state contentious in all races including the presidency.
September 21 Election Insider
Democrats have a heavy advantage when looking at the Senate in 2008, and the news gets better by the day. Strong Democratic candidates are emerging, and unbeatable Republicans are retiring.
August 29 Election Insider
Republicans have vigorously campaigned since 1994 on a platform of social morals, family values, and bringing accountability to Washington . In the months leading up to the 2006 election, scandal after scandal emerged, showcasing their paper-thin rhetoric.
August 9 Election Insider
Previous issues of the Election Insider have focused on the importance of extending the Democratic majorities in Congress. In today's political reality, incumbents rarely lose.
July 27 Election Insider
Republicans have a simple strategy for winning back Congress in 2008: they plan to label the current Democratic majority as a "do-nothing" Congress.
July 11 Election Insider
The evolution of the Independent is one of the most important factors affecting American politics today. Americans are identifying themselves as Independent with greater frequency, making these swing voters essential to the success of almost any campaign.
June 28 Election Insider
Not a single vote has been cast in a presidential primary, but already it feels as though the country is neck deep in the presidential race.
June 13 Election Insider
In the past the party of a newly elected president enjoyed wholesale success, sweeping into power by winning in both the presidential race and the congressional elections.
May 29 Election Insider
One of the most important aspects of any campaign is formatting a message that can be repeated and that will stick with the voters. In 2006, Democrats employed the term “culture of corruption” to describe the Republican-held Congress.
May 17 Election Insider
The eyes of Americans are firmly fixated on the early-forming presidential campaign, but Democrats must not be complacent and single-minded or the consequences could be dire.
April 25 Election Insider
The litany of corruption that permeated the GOP-led Congress helped push voters away from Republicans in 2006.
April 18 Election Insider
The enthusiasm that propelled Democrats to take control of Congress remains, as Democratic fundraising remained competitive in congressional races for the first quarter of the year.
Election Insider
April 18 Election Insider
Democrats are Staying Competitive with GOP in Fundraising
The enthusiasm that propelled Democrats to take control of Congress remains, as Democratic fundraising remained competitive in congressional races for the first quarter of the year. Most important, our most vulnerable members of Congress are posting impressive numbers in comparison to their GOP counterparts in an apparent reversal of fortune from recent cycles.
Democrats in Better Financial Shape for 2008
The first quarter FEC reports depict a positive picture for Democrats as the party finds itself in better financial shape than the Republicans. The strong fundraising demonstrated by Democrats in the 2006 campaign has transitioned into financial superiority for the 2008 campaign thus far. As the graph below shows, when looking at the 68 races that were decided by 10% or less in 2006 the Democratic incumbents have an advantage over the Republicans in both total money received and cash on hand according to their first quarter reports.
Freshman Members Raising Funds at a Frenzied Pace
The new Democratic majority was partially built on seats won in typically Republican areas, in such places as Kansas, Kentucky, and even conservative areas of New York. Therefore, our freshman members of Congress will be most in danger of losing reelection bids. Looking at the first quarter fund-raising reports gives a reason for early optimism, as Democrats have outperformed the fund-raising of recent cycles, but it is early and we'll need every penny. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) reported that the 29 members in its frontline program, which raises money for vulnerable seats, had raised an average of $300,000 to this point, in comparison with the average $185,000 at this point in the last cycle. Several candidates such as Ron Klein and Tim Mahoney, who both represent conservative-leaning districts in Florida, have done a solid job raising money. Mahoney, who won the sixteenth district, which was Mark Foley's district, has already raised 450K. Ron Klein, who was locked in a tight battle with former representative Clay Shaw in 2006, has raised $600,000. Thus far, Kirsten Gillibrand (NY-20) is leading among all freshman House members, but across the board the numbers are encouraging. The new members will need to continue fundraising at an elevated pace, because they will be marked as prime targets by the Republicans.
While our first-quarter numbers are encouraging, targeted Republicans have ramped up their fund-raising as well. Several GOP congressmen who barely survived the 2006 campaign have posted strong figures. It is through these seats that we will seek to extend our fragile majority, and staying close in terms of money will be paramount to our ability to do so. Vern Buchanan, who survived his 2006 only after a recount has already raised $450,000 for his reelection bid, and embattled House member Heather Wilson (NM-01) has been able to raise $325,000, which far surpasses her earlier efforts.
However, a financial advantage will mean far less without the work done by NCEC. Our precinct targeting, media market analysis, and consultation that we provide at no cost to candidates is fundamental to Democratic success. Our technological assistance lets Democratic campaigns know where to find Democratic votes down to the precinct and neighborhood levels, and we've been doing it for 60 years. The services that NCEC provides without charge would cost thousands of dollars and be far less effective if done by another source, and we are expanding our services as we speak. Our ability to produce our targeting is dependent on donations from our members, and we utilize every dollar to the fullest extent. Please contribute.
